Celebrating Reroute Of The Cross River Superhighway - A Win For Wildlife!

Earlier this year, environmentalists stood up to
vehemently challenge Prof. Ben Ayade’s decision to construct a proposed ‘Cross
River Superhighway’. It did not matter that the idea seemed beautiful on the
surface – a 260 kilometers long highway with anti-slip features, speed cameras
and to crown it, high-speed internet connectivity while connecting other
distant parts of the country in a short time.

Debates here and there followed, the conflict was
not on the basis of the proposed huge sum of $3.5 billion dollars to be spent
for the construction; it was not the dispute over who should get the contract,
foreign expatriate or indigenous companies? Neither was it the fear over how
long the project will span entwined with the willingness (or not) of subsequent
administration(s) to complete such pioneering project.

The imminent degradation of Nigeria’s rich
biodiversity, the destruction of her ancestral heritages, the possible
extinction of wildlife like the Cross River gorillas and further threats to the
diminishing population of chimpanzee, pangolin, and forest elephant were the
issues that attracted international uproar over the construction of the
superhighway.

Records have it that the world’s largest decline of
any subspecies of great ape recorded is the Cross River gorillas. Between 1995
and 2010 – 5 years, there was a 59 percent decline rate in their population.
The Cross River superhighway could have in few months raised that percentage by
another 41 per cent, thereby, causing this endemic species of Gorilla (with
less than 300 left in the wild) to be entirely wiped off.

The decision to reroute the highway is a big win
considering that Nigeria is viewed as a ‘democratic’ country where people in
power – federal and state take decisions with or without (mostly without)
long-term consideration of the resultant effect of such actions or policies.

The selfless act of passionate environment conscious
individuals, organizations and closely related agencies across the world that
stood up and spoke loud enough concerning this issue is highly commendable.

Lastly, we sincerely thank you - President Buhari,
Minister Jubril, and Governor Ayade for this. The decision to reroute the
highway and to suspend plans for the superhighway's 20km-wide buffer through
some parts of the Cross River National park is a win for our irreplaceable
wildlife, a win for posterity, a win for Nigeria’s biodiversity and a win for
the world at large.

Now that we know that the superhighway's new route
will ensure that Nigeria’s biodiversity is prioritized and that our fauna and
flora entities will thrive undisturbed, we are super excited about the project
and anticipate its realization.